Ash to Kings Trail opens in Carson City Saturday

The 7-mile trail connecting Ash and Kings canyons in the hills west of Carson City will officially open this weekend with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday.

“It’s very exciting,” said Jeff Potter, a board member of Muscle Powered. “It’s a chance for us to say thank you in a public setting to all the partnerships that were involved.”

The multi-use, non-motorized trail starts at 5,600 feet and climbs about 1,100 feet to the highest point.

Jenny Scanland, with the Recreational Trails Program of Nevada State Parks, said the trail is accessible to all levels of fitness. She encouraged people who haven’t been on the Ash to Kings Trail to check it out.

“It is the most awesome trail, right in our own backyard, that we have ever had,” she said.

The idea for the trail was first presented in 2007 with work beginning in 2012.

Potter spearheaded the project as a member of Muscle Powered, the organization dedicated to creating a walkable, bikeable community. He was awarded a national American Trails Association award for his work.

Other partners included Nevada State Parks, Lumos & Associates, the Great Basin Institute and the U.S. Forest Service.

Kelly Clark, a Muscle Powered board member, said she’s pleased to see the trail come to fruition.

“It’s a great outdoor resource,” she said. “When you have people come in from out of town, this is what they’re going to be doing.”

The opening ceremony will be 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the Ash Canyon trailhead. Limited shuttles will be available at the entrance to the canyon at the bottom of Ash Canyon Road for people with difficulties making the hike. Shuttles will begin at 7 a.m., and the last will leave at 8:15.

High-clearance vehicles can park farther up the road at the square pond.

Hikers and bikers should allow for 45 minutes to just more than an hour to make the 1-mile climb.

To mark the occasion, participants will be invited to gather on the north bridge for a group photo.

Kyle Horvath, marketing manager for the Carson City Visitors Bureau, said the trail will be a valuable tourism draw.

“We’re not just opening a trail,” he said, “we’re opening a world-class trail. It’s something we should be proud of.”